Maharashtra to fill 50% PG medical seats in deemed universities

2/9/2017

MUMBAI: The state government will fill 50% of post-graduate medical seats in deemed universities and private colleges through common counselling rounds that will commence soon. Admissions to all colleges will be based on scores in NEET-PG, mentioned a recent government resolution issued by the state recently. The government is also in the process of formulating an ordinance to include deemed universities in the common counselling conducted for admissions to 85% of their undergraduate seats.

While 50% will be filled by the state government in PG colleges, the remaining 50% will be retained by college managements, said Pravin Shingare, director of Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER). The state will, therefore, fill around 450 of the 900 PG seats in private colleges, 550 of the 1,100 in deemed medical universities and 100% for 1,200 seats in state government colleges.

However, for undergraduate admissions, which will commence only after NEET-UG results will be out in June, a government resolution alone is not enough, said a government official. "Centralized UG admissions in deemed colleges were challenged in the Bombay high court last year. Since the matter is still pending in court, we will have to issue an ordinance in order to include deemed colleges in the purview of the Admissions' Act," said the official. Shingare confirmed that the government is working on the ordinance and is keen on bringing it out before this year's admission commence.

Parents of medical aspirants are in favour of a centralized counselling process across private and deemed colleges for undergraduate admissions. While private admissions in the state are already governed by the state, parents are awaiting the ordinance, which would bring deemed colleges under the state's purview too. Since last year's process was chaotic, parents have sought clarity on the rules and regulations in advance. One parent said if deemed universities come under the state's centralized process for PG admissions, the same policy should be applicable for UG too.